Mercury vapor lighting fixture



MERCURY VAPOR LIGHTING FIXTURE Filed Oct. 26, 1966 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 ffl 24 55 /75 "4749/4947 f if? /74 l 9" I f l. Ill. /7 J0 5g f/ [f4 57E-ff 55 INVECNT Rs A/Mzy cnf/nfs@ BY nya/m45 E Cese- @ci l, 1968 H. c. SCHIPPER ETAL 3,404,259

MERCURY VAPOR LIGHTING FIXTURE Filed Oct. 2, 1966 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 1, y1968 lbnc.Scl-nr-l-'ER ETAL 3,404,269

MERCURY VAPOR LIGHTING FIXTURE V 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Oct. 2, 1966 (iff INVENTORS C'PEED I United States Patent Office 3,404,269 Patented Oct. 1, 1968 3,404,269 MERCURY VAPOR LIGHTING FIXTURE Henry C. Schiffer, Chesire, and Thomas E. Creed, Yalesville, Conn., assignors to The Miller Company, Meriden, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Filed Oct. 26, 1966, Ser. No. 589,732 11 Claims. (Cl. 24U-11.4)

ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE A lighting fixture having a multisectioned housing er1- closing electrical components for operating a depending lamp carried by the housing. The housing has a double open ended hollow central section with spaced metal plates positioned therebetween for holding a transformer ballast. Two end closure sections are secured to the central section in heat insulating relationship for carrying electrical components which should not be subjected to high temperatures.

This invention relates to lighting fixtures and more specifically to a novel and improved fixture for supporting and operating mercury lamps.

Mercury lamps while providing a highly efficient light source, operate at a relatively high temperature and each lamp requires a transformer ballast and condenser for starting and operation. Furthermore, the condenser and transformer should preferably be enclosed within a protective housing and at the same time the maximum ternperature to which these components are subjected should be maintained at a relatively low value. These ends have ybeen attained through the utilization of a novel and improved housing wherein the transformer and condenser are contained within separate compartments insulated one from the other and wherein a novel and improved lamp and reflector mount yare provided to ventilate the lamp and minimize the effect of lamp heat on the housing for the transformer and condenser.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a novel and improved housing for a mercury lamp ballast and condenser wherein the condenser compartment is insulated from the ballast compartment to avoid subjection of the condenser to high temperatures and wherein a lamp socket is carried by the housing in heat insulating relationship to minimize conductive transfer of heat from the socket to the housing.

Still another object of the invention lresides in the provision of a novel and improved light fixture for mercury lamps which includes a housing containing a ballast and condenser, a socket yand reflector `support carried by the housing and a reflector carried -by the support. The socket, reflector support and reflector are coordinated with the housing to minimize the transfer of heat by conduction to the housing. In addition the reflector is coordinated with the lamp carried by the socket to provide for circulation of air about the lamp in such a manner that minimum heat is transferred by convection to the housing.

A still further object of the invention resides in the provision `for a novel and improved lighting fixture for mercury lamps which is characterized by its simplicity, ease of maintenance and relatively long life of the electrical components utilized for operation of the lamp.

The above and other objects of the invention will become more apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings forming part of this application.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation in partial section of the lighting fixture in accordance with the invention.

FIGURE 2 is an end elevational view in partial section of the structure shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view of FIGURE 2 taken along the line 4-4 thereof.

FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional view of FIGURE 1 taken along the line 5-5 thereof.

FIGURE 6 is a cross-sectional view of FIGURE 1 taken along the line 6-6 thereof.

FIGURE 7 is a side elevational view similar to FIG- URE 1 Iand illustrating a modified form of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings and more specifically to FIGURES 1 through 6, the lighting fixture comprises a housing generally denoted by the numeral 10 having ceutral section 11 and a pair of end sections 12 and 13. The central housing section 11 is a double open-ended hollow structure and is provided with a top wall 14, side walls 15 and 16 which curve slightly inwardly to the bottom of the housing and a bottom wall 17 which includes upwardly and inwardly inclined sections 17a and 17b and a flat central section 17c. The bottom wall, therefore, is arranged to provide `an inverted channel transversely of the central housing section 11 to Ireceive a bracket 18 for supporting the lamp socket 19 and reflector 20.

The central housing section 11 is closed by the attachment of the end sections 12 and 13 which are identical in configuration. In the instant embodiment of the invention the housing section 13 is in the form of an end-cap secured directly to the central housing section 11, while the housing section 12 is secured to the central housing section 11 in heat insulating relationship. The housing sections 12 and 13 have the same cross-sectional configuration as the central housing section 11 so that when the three elements are joined one to the other they form in effect a single coordinated housing.

The central housing section 11 together with the housing section 13 forms a compartment for receiving and holding a transformer ballast 21 for operation of the mercury lamp. The transformer is supported on a shelf 22 slidably carried in a guideway formed by inwardly extending shelf-like elements 23 and 24 carried by the side walls 1S and 16 and top guides 25 and 26 also extending inwardly from the side walls 15 and 1-6. The transformer 21 may also be provided with an overlying aluminum plate 27 having upwardly extending cooling tins 28 if desired. The shelf-like elements 23 and 24 and the top guides 25 and 26 contain vertical slots 29, as will be observed more clearly in FIGURE 3. The shelf 22 is provided with one or more openings 30 adapted to receive a cotter pin 31. Since the holes 30 lie at the very edge of the shelf 22, one of the holes can be aligned with one of the slots 29 so that the insertion of the cotter pin 31 in the aligned hole will lock the shelf in a selected horizontal position.

The central housing section 11 further includes a plurality of fins 32 on the internal wall thereof for the absorption of heat from the transformer 21. The end edges of the central section 11 .also include external vertical fins 33 which, as will be shown, tend to confine the major portion of a hot air flow from the reflector upwardly along the sides of the central housing section 11 and thereby reduce the effect of the heat produced by the lamp on the end sections 12 and 13.

In the inst-ant embodiment of the invention the housing section 12 is insulated by a pair of aluminum plates 34 and 35. The aluminum plates are held in spaced relationship by a plurality of bosses 35a on the plate 35 and a plurality of bosses 34a on the plate 34. The plates are joined together by a hollow rivet 36 and are provided with four openings 37 to accommodate pins 38 disposed at the four corners of the end closure 12. The pins 38 further engage the four corners of the adjoining opening of the central housing portion 11 to maintain the end closure in alignmentL The end closure 12 is held in place bya pair of screws 39 extending through cooperating openings 40 in the end closure 12 and threadably engaging threaded bosses 41 on thecentral housing portion 11. The end closure 13 is identical to the end closure 12, and it is provided with pins 38 and openings 40 for attachment to the central housing portion 11 by a pair of screws 39.

A condenser 42 is contained within the end closure 12 and is held in position by a bracket 43 secured to studs 44 by a pair of screws 45. The leads 46 of condenser 42 extend through the hollow rivet 36 for interconnection with the transformer and the lamp socket 19.

The refiector supporting bracket 18 is secured to the horizontal bottom wall section 17e.` of the central housing section 11 by four screws 47 .and cooperating spacers 48 to space the base 49 of the bracket 18 from the bottom wall 17C. The socket 19 is secured to the underside of the base 49 of the reflector bracket 18 by suitable fastening means such -as the nut and bolt 49. This minimizes conductive heat transfer from the bracket 18 to the housing section 11. The bracket 18 has a pair of downwardly extending plates 50 integrally formed with the base 49. Each plate 50 has two outwardly and downwardly extending legs so that two legs 51a and 51b extend from one side of the fixture and legs 52a and 52b extend from the other side of the fixture as may be viewed more clearly in FIGURE 3. Each leg has an inclined slot 53 extending upwardly and inwardly toward the housing and inwardly extending tabs 54. Rods 55 for supporting the reector 20 extend between the pairs of legs 51 and 52 and are held in position by any suitable means such as the end caps 56 which are forced on the ends of the rods.

The reector in the instant embodiment of the invention is circular in configuration and surrounds the mercury lamp 57. The neck 58 of the lamp has a base 59 threadably eng-aging the socket 19. The top surface 60 of the reector 20 has an enlarged lamp receiving opening 61 so that the top surface of the reector 60 constitutes, in effect, an annular horizontal ring formed integrally with the downwardly fiared reector. The bottom portion of the reflector 20 has not been illustrated since it can have any desired configuration. The reflector is secured to the rods 55 by a pair of brackets 62, each having a bottom horizontal portion 63 secured to the top wall 60 of the reflector 20 by rivets or other suitable means. The brackets have upwardly and outwardly extending sections 64, vertical sections 65 and inwardly formed hooks 66. The spacing between the hooks 66 corresponds to the spacing between the rods 55 so that when the reflector is hanging on the rods, the rods are at the bottoms of the slots 53. If the reflector should be pushed upwardly accidentally, the vertical portions 65 of the brackets 62 will engage the tabs 54 and prevent disengagement of the reflector.

To remove the reflector 20 from the fixture, one side of the reector is tilted upwardly which thereby moves the associated rod 55 to the upper end of its cooperating slots. This action will displace the other reflector support 62 moving it beneath the -associated tabs 54 and permit the hook portion 66 to be disengaged from its associated rod 55. Thereupon the hook 66 on said one side of the reflector can be disengaged from its associated rod 55. In this way the reflector cannot be accidentally disengaged from the supporting bracket 18, though it can be easily removed by proper manipulation.

With the invention -as described above, the transformer ballast 21 and the condenser 42 are in protected positions within the housing 10 and are interconnected one with the other and with the socket. Connections to the socket are made through a hollow sleeve 67 formed in the bottom wall portion 17e, the base 49 of the reflector bracket 18 having an opening registering with the sleeve 67 so that the connecting leads will be completely protected. Electrical energy is introduced to the housing 10 by a suitable electrical connector such as the connector 68 which engages a supporting bracket 69 formed integrally with 4 the central housing section 11. The bracket 69 has a central opening 70 through which connecting lead wires may pass.

In the operation of this structure, the lamp 57 attains a relatively high temperature, and this causes the flow of air upwardly through the reflector and through the opening 61. The air then passes upwardly on each side of the central housing section 11 and is confined in part to the central housing section 11 by reason of the outwardly extending ns 33. At the `same time the spacers 48 between the reflector bracket 18 and the housing minimizes the transfer of heat by conduction to the housing. In this way the central housing section 11 can be maintained at a relatively low temperature and thereby avoid overheating of the transformer ballast 21. It is desirable that the condenser 42 be maintained at a lower temperature than the transformer ballast 21. Since the condenser is contained within the end closure 12 which is insulated from the central housing portion 11 by the insulating plates 34 and 35 and since the end closure 12 is spaced from the direct flow of heated air from the lamp 57, the temperature of the condenser can 4be maintained well within safe operating limits. Furthermore, through the unique coordination and arrangement of the elements of this lighting fixture, all components are readily accessible for wiring and maintenance, and the reflector can be readily disengaged from its supporting bracket.

In some instances it may be desirable to heat insulate the end closure 13 in the event it is desirable to include another condenser or other electrical components in the housing 10. This form of the invention is shown in FIG- URE 7 wherein like numerals are utilized to denote corresponding elements in both forms of the invention. In this embodiment of the invention it will be observed that the end closure 13 which is identical to the end closure 12 previously described is spaced from the central housing portion 11 by a pair of plates 34 and 35 which are identical to the plates 34 and 35 which space the end closure 12 from the central housing portion 11.

While only certain embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it is apparent that alterations, modifications and changes may be made without departing from the true scope and spirit thereof as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A lighting fixture comprising a housing enclosing electrical components for operating a depending lamp carried by said housing, said housing having a double open ended hollow central section with bottom, side and top walls and end closure compartments removably secured to said central section to close the ends thereof, a pair of spaced metal plates positioned between at least one of said end closure compartments and the adjoining open end of said central housing, a first electrical lamp starting and operating component in said central housing section, a second electrical lamp starting and operating component in said one end closure, and a lamp socket and refiector support carried by and in insulating relationship to the underside of said housing.

2. A lighting fixture according to claim 1 including a reflector removably carried by said reflector support, said reliector being adapted to surround a lamp carried by said socket and having a lamp receiving opening substantially greater than the adjoining lamp portion to provide for substantially unrestricted flow of air upwardly through said reflector and about said lamp.

3. A lighting fixture comprising a housing enclosing electrical components for operating a depending lamp carried by said housing, said housing being hollow and having a double open ended central section and end closure compartments removably secured to said central section to close the ends thereof, a pair of spaced metal plates positioned between at least one of said end closure compartments and the adjoining open end of said central housing, a first electrical lamp starting and operating component in said central housing section, a second electrical lamp starting and operating component in said one end closure, and a lamp socket and reflector support carriedv by and in insulating relationship to the underside of said housing, said reflector bracket including two pair of downwardly and outwardly extending spaced parallel legs with each leg having an upwardly and inwardly inclined slot, a rod extending between each pair of legs and slidably carried by said slots and a reflector adapted to surround a lamp carried by and depending from said socket, said reflector having a lamp receiving opening and a pair of upwardly extending hooks adjoining the edge of said opening and engaging said rods.

4. A lighting fixture according to claim 3 wherein said hooks face inwardly and each of said legs include an inwardly extending tab disposed outwardly of and slightly above the bottom end of said inclined slot.

5. A lighting fixture comprising a housing enclosing electrical components for operating a depending lamp carried by said housing, said housing being hollow and having a double open ended central section and end closure compartments removably secured to said central section to close the ends thereof, a pair of spaced metal plates positioned between at least one of said end closure compartments and the adjoining open end of said central housing, a first electrical lamp starting and operating component in said central housing section, a second electrical lamp starting and operating component in said one end closure, and a lamp socket and reflector support carried by and in insulating relationship to the underside of said housing, said central housing section including a top wall, a pair of side walls and a bottom wall, a pair of guideways carried by said side walls, a shelf slidably engaging said guideways and carrying said first component, and means releasably locking said shelf against horizontal movement in said guideways.

6. A lighting fixture comprising a housing enclosing electrical components for operating a depending lamp carried by said housing, said housing being hollow and having a double open ended central section and end closure compartments removably secured to said central section to close the ends thereof, a pair of spaced metal plates positioned between at least one of said end closure compartments and the adjoining open end of said central housing, a first electrical lamp starting and operating component in said central housing section, a second electrical lamp starting and operating component in said one end closure, and a lamp socket and reflector support carried by and in insulating relationship to the underside of said housing, said first component is a transformer ballast and said second component is a condenser.

7. A lighting fixture comprising a housing enclosing electrical components for operating a depending lamp carried by said housing, said housing being hollow and having a double open ended central section and end closure compartments removably secured to said central section to close the ends thereof, a pair of spaced metal plates positioned between at least one of said end closure compartments and the adjoining open end of said central housing, a first electrical lamp starting and operating component in said central housing section, a second electrical lamp starting and operating component in said one end closure, and a lamp socket and reflector support carried by and in insulating relationship to the underside of said housing, said central housing section including a top wall,

two side walls and a bottom wall, said bottom wall having a pair of sections sloping upwardly and inwardly and a central connecting section to form a transverse inverted channel, and said reflector support and socket are secured to said central connecting section.

8. A lighting fixture according to claim 7 wherein said side walls each have at least one vertical fin substantially parallel to each edge thereof.

9. A lighting fixture comprising a housing enclosing electrical components for operating a depending lamp carried by said housing, said housing being hollow and having a double open ended central section and end closure compartments removably secured to said central section to close the ends thereof, a pair of spaced metal plates positioned between at least one of said end closure compartments and the adjoining open end of said central housing, a first electrical lamp starting and operating component in said central housing section, a second electrical lamp starting and operating component in said one end closure, and a lamp socket and reflector support carried by and in insulating relationship to the underside of said housing, said central housing section including a top wall, two side walls and a bottom wall, said bottom wall having a pair of sections sloping upwardly and inwardly and a central connecting section to form a transverse inverted channel, and said reflector support and socket are secured to said central connection section, said reflector bracket includes two pair of downwardly and outwardly extending spaced parallel legs with each leg having an upwardly and inwardly inclined slot, -a rod extending between each pair of legs and slidably carried by said slots and a reflector adapted to surround a lamp carried by and depending from said socket, said reflector having a lamp receiving opening and a pair of upwardly extending hooks adjoining the edge of said opening and engaging said rods.

10. A lighting xture according to claim 9 wherein said hooks face inwardly and each of said legs includes an iuwardly extending tab disposed outwardly of and slightly above the bottom end of said inclined slot.

11. A lighting fixture comprising a housing enclosing electrical components for operating a depending lamp carried by said housing, said housing having a double open ended hollow central section with bottom, side `and top walls and end closure compartments removably secured to said central section to close the ends thereof, heat insulating means positioned between at least one of said end closure compartments and the adjoining open end of said -central housing, a first electrical lamp starting and operating component in said central housing section, a second electrical lamp starting and operating component in said one end closure, and a lamp socket and reflector support carried by and in insulating relationship to the underside of said housing.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 540,404 6/ 1895 Radcliffe 240-41 732,488 6/1903 Wood 240-11.4 2,559,313 7/1951 Nordstrom 240-47 2,767,307 10/ 1956 McGinty et al. 240-78 3,335,270 8/1967 Rongey et al. 240-11.4

NORTON ANSHER, Primary Examiner. RICHARD M. SHEER, Assistant Examiner'. 

